In 1958 the British Transport Commission wanted to close the waterway at a cost of £119,000 but the canal was transferred to the National Trust and, through volunteer work together with labour from local prisons, the canal was restored at a cost of just £56,000. The canal re-opened in 1964.
From the centre of Stratford, the canal runs through a surprisingly industrialised part of the town before reaching the Wilmcote flight of 11 locks and on to Wilmcote and Mary Arden's House. She was Shakespeare's mother although it is believed that she actually lived some 300 yards away and the house was not built until five years after she left the village.
The canal follows a peaceful course over Edstone Aqueduct, through a wooded section and over another aqueduct to Wootton Wawen, a pretty village dominated by the 11th century St. Peter's Church. The canal continues through quiet countryside to Preston Bagot and Lowsonford and on to Kingswood Junction where it is possible to join the Grand Union Canal. Continuing North, the boater is presented with a concentrated flight of locks at Lapworth but having negotiated them, there is a lock-free stretch all the way to Kings Norton.
After Hockley Heath there is further quiet countryside disturbed only by the sounds from the M42 motorway, shortly after this is the Blue Bell, at one time a traditional cider house, with good moorings outside. The canal then passes Earlswood Reservoir which feeds the canal and shortly after the suburbs of Birmingham are reached although there is still a semi-rural atmosphere to the canal. After Brandwood Tunnel is the junction with the Birmingham and Worcester and the boater can go north into the centre of the city or follow the southern route to Worcester.
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